WHAT'S NEW IN THE CHURCH'S LIFE?

At the beginning of February 1978, the priests of Lithuania presented a letter to Bishop J.(uozas) Labukas, the Apostolic Administrator of the Kaunas Archdiocese.

The letter voices the priests' concern about the intolerable situation existing at the Kaunas Seminary due to constant interference by government officials in Seminary affairs. Fearing security police vengeance, the Ordinaries do not dare expel from the seminary seminarians who have been recruited by the KGB. The authors of the letter thank the rector of the seminary for expelling seminarian Jakutis and bemoan the fact that seminarian Rudis, who continually disrupts discipline at the seminary and whom all seminarians hold to be a KGB agent, has been allowed to remain. Third-year seminarian Kazlauskas is also considered a KGB agent and should be immediately ousted from the Seminary. Similar seminarians also exist in other seminary classes.

The authors of the letter feel that the Ordinaries are making a serious mistake by ordaining seminarians of doubtful worth.

The priests charge Kaunas Archdiocesan Apostolic Administrator Bishop J.(uozas) Labukas with giving most consideration to the demands of government officials when appointing priests to parishes. The Rev. Izidorius Butkus is cited as an example. Under pressure by government officials, this priest was imposed as chancellor of the Kaunas archdiocese and now serves as pastor of St. Antho­ny Parish.

The priests are concerned that Lithuanian priests who are completely unsuited for the position of bishop not be named to the post.

The letter also voices discontent over the fact that the Ordinaries of Lithuania do not allow Lithuanian priest to do missionary work in Russia.

A rumor is widespread among Lithuanian priests that Kaunas Archdiocesan Chancellor Izidorius Butkus is being endorsed as a candidate for elevation to bishop. In the view of all serious priests, his appointment to bishop would be a misfortune for the Catholic Church in Lithuania. Priests and faithful have indicated to Bishop Labukas the canonical impediments which would prevent Butkus' appointment to this high Church position.

In February, seminarian V. Rudis from the Vilnius archdiocese, whom all considered to be a KGB agent, was temporarily ousted from the seminary. It is feared that both J. Jakutis and V. Rudis might be readmitted to the seminary. This would once again confirm that the seminary is impotent in shaking off the oppression of the KGB.

The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania has received information from various localities in Lithuania on how the KGB is recruiting children and youth who serve at Holy Mass as its agents. Security agents personally visit schools, force children to meet with them and so on.

The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania is asking all priests and believing parents to apprise school-children of these efforts by the KGB to prevent the lives of believing children from being crippled. It also appears that the KGB is making every effort to recruit as spies those who might one day enter the seminary.

The KGB is circulating the idea that the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania is not being liquidated — though they know who the publishers are—because it is conducting a disruptive campaign among priests. This idea is repeated by certain high clergymen, who act as mouthpieces for the KGB.